Press Digest for Sunday July 07, 2013

The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

• Shiites in Baalbek region reject Hezbollah fighting in Syria

Arab sources told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper on Sunday that the Shiite sect in Lebanon, mainly in the Baalbek region, is starting to voice its rejection to sending fighters to Syria.

Sources added that the Shiites in Lebanon expressed their willingness to fight against Israel, but not against the Syrian people.

According to the Daily, Hezbollah became incapable of assuming the burdens of the fighting taking place in Syria, mainly with the rise of Hezbollah fighters killed during the battles in the past months.

• Lebanese leaders reach deadlock over pending issues

Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Sunday that efforts exerted by President Michel Sleiman to hold a parliamentary session reached a deadlock.

Sources added that talks hebd by President Sleiman with Speaker Nabih Berri and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati did not see any progress in this regard.

According to the Daily, Lebanese leaders also reached an impasse over the formation of a new government.

• Speaker Berri says adamant on agenda of parliamentary session

Speaker Nabih Berri told An-Nahar newspaper on Sunday that the latest meeting with President Michel Sleiman and Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati was "positive", denying any disputes between President Sleiman and him.

Speaker Berri added that the solution for the Lebanese political issues would be the "swift formation of a new government".

He also voiced his insistence on the agenda of the parliamentary session, adding that he is still waiting for the approval of the political blocs on items listed in the agenda to hold the session.

• Caretaker Minister Karami: All Lebanese leaders interfered in Syrian crisis despite self-dissociation policy

Caretaker Minister of Youth and Sports Faysal Karami told An-Nahar newspaper on Sunday that the armed presence in Tripoli is "not tolerated."

In this regard, he noted that the solution to the frequent clashes taking place in Tripoli would reside in the deployment of the Lebanese army in the city.

He also slammed the security plan launched by Caretaker Minister of Interior Marwan Charbel, saying that it don't reach its goals in the city.

On Hezbollah fighting in Syria, Caretaker Minister Karami noted that all Lebanese leaders interfered in the crisis taking place in Syria, not only Hezbollah, despite the self-dissociation policy.